Finding His Friends

[Sage]

Sage grinned. "Nox hijacked a former colleague's house and is bringing all sorts of strays to his friends house. The bones are good, just need some redcorating and that's what Ana is good at, and the money is not the problem. But hey maybe you'll s" There was a sort strange vibe that ran through Sage as Aiden said he liked his name.

"There all sorts of surprises waiting for you. But there are no monsters in cages. I could warn you, but then you might not come." Sage grinned sadly, "And I think I might be disappointed if you didn't come by now. I can't promise nothing freaky though, since that varies by person. " And Nox had strange ideas, his basement was full of dangerous things and tunnels into even creepier places. The yard was covered in bombs and trip wires. They were fortified to hell and back to starve back a war that might not come. And Sage had invited Aiden into the thick of it.

[Aiden Finnegan]

Aiden’s grin broadened at Sage’s response, “Perfect. It’s a date then. I’ll bring lunch with me, in that case. Is there anything you or Nox won’t eat? Anyone else going to be around tomorrow? I don’t mind feeding the whole house if they are. Might be a nice little peace offering. Everyone loves food.”

                It took an effort for Aiden to ignore his phone. He wanted to call Dimitri over right now so they could get Aiden packed up and on the road.  A call to his driver wouldn’t hurt either; Aiden enjoyed long drives, but he didn’t like to be the one behind the wheel. He couldn’t watch the scenery or tend to business if he was stuck driving. It’s not like he couldn’t afford a private driver.

                “Is there a good time to come by tomorrow? In the afternoon, still? I’ll probably leave here tonight and crash at my place in the city until you guys are ready to receive me,”Aiden said with a wiggle of the eyebrows and an impish grin. He did love a good metaphor.

[Sage]

Sage's eyes widened at food. "Food is always good. Just make sure bring meat, Nox likes that - he's a fucking health nut." So fucking anal. "But honestly just bring whatever you like, free food is free food." And Aiden was rich, what he thought was good might pass for gourmet even.

Nox was up early, even before Christian. His nightmares kept him awake. Sage had heard him every morning since they'd started living closer together. It was annoying. "You could be at the house at 8am for all i cared as long as you don't mind just hanging with Nox."

Sage didn't want to leave, the house was boring, no one was here. Except Nova. "I guess I can find something to do till you get here. Everyone's gone, place is boring."

[Aiden Finnegan]

“I’ll pick us up a whole spread then. Meat was never not an option,” Aiden said with a deep, throaty laugh, “I had ribs for lunch, so probably not that. Maybe some barbeque… I know this hole in the wall joint. Reminds me of this place back in the states. Do you ever miss it? America, I mean...”

                Aiden had adjusted well to life in the First Dominance. So well that he considered never returning to America. Oh, he knew he’d be back eventually, he hadn’t seen his family in over 2 years now and it was starting to wear at him. He just couldn’t go back until he released the new novel. That might help salvage his public image… If it didn’t… Well, Aiden wasn’t a quitter. He would figure something out. He just couldn’t bear to return home with all of those eyes watching him and judging him. Who knew a fall from grace would sting so much?

                “I mean, I can come by tonight. I just have to get Dimitri over here before I leave. Not to mention packing… Too bad you didn’t have some way to open a portal for me to hop through. Can Channeling do that? It would be mighty convenient… I assume you are a night owl if you won’t be up in the morning, and believe me when I say I wouldn’t dream of coming over if you weren’t there Sage,”Aiden said ever so smoothly. He gave Sage a wolfish grin and licked his lips.

[Sage]

He missed home. But then again he didn't miss anyone, maybe Sasha. He'd thought about sending her a message. She'd been his all since his parents, but now it was strange not talking to her. Or talking to any of his friends.

Sage let out a soft sigh. "I miss my server and The Den, but I don't really miss anything else. I can rebuild it all." It was all those things. And Sage had every intention of rebuilding it all. He just needed a place to call home. He wasn't sure Dorian's could cut it.

"I'll be up. Though not sure how long we'll have the house to ourselves. Ana and Christian only went to the movies. And I'm sure Nox will drag Cruz home early cause he'll be bored." Sage would have mentioned Dorian, but Dorian was MIA. Where the fuck was he? He should get back to that search. He sighed. He could work...at least until Aiden got there. "Or I could meet you when you get here. It's boring here."

[Aiden Finnegan]

Thinking about this building that Sage was staying at and the mention of rebuilding tickled Aiden’s brain. If the novel was a flop, he would dive in to building. Perhaps open up another arm of Finnegan Construction in Moscow. Dad had plenty of government contacts, Aiden could find success the same way his Dad did: through government building contracts.

                That was if the novel flopped.

                If.

                “Well, I sure hope all of your friends like me. I haven’t really made any since moving here. Dimitri doesn’t count. I pay him to like me. Not that you and I are friends yet, but I’m really starting to like the idea of it,” Aiden grinned again. He really needed to get out of the house more.

                “Either way is fine by me. If we’re being totally honest, I’d prefer to meet you in public before heading over to your house. You’re cute and all, but I don’t like to take any unnecessary chances… I still don’t know if you’re a crazed ax murderer yet. You ever see that old movie Misery? I’d rather not end up like that guy… Maybe we can meet while I pick up the food? I can text you the address on my way over, once I figure out what we’re eating.” Aiden was all smiles. He hadn’t realized how much he missed talking to people. Especially another American.

[Sage]

"What's not to like." Sage grinned. "I'm not sure if they are my friends. Nox is the annoying little brother of a girl I took to a prom as a kid. We started becoming friends when she died. He confided in me. Cruz and I speak the same tech language. But I don't know if any of this is even real." Sage sighed. Life sucked. The prior depression was creeping in again. Sage needed to get back into the information.

"Public place is good." Sage nodded and put his personal contact information Aiden's computer. It was stupid but he said he'd keep his secret. Who the fuck was The Wicked Truth anyway? No one. No one would care if he was just a two bit hacker. He was nothing.

"I need to go. I'm losing my edge I need to eat ironically. Call or text and I'll meet you wherever, whenever. I'll be up. I have too much to do." He had a cop to look for, and a friend. Dorian was like a father he never had, he owned the guy.

[Aiden Finnegan]

Aiden caught the compliment that Sage slipped in. He thought it was one at least. Maybe the future wouldn’t be too bad after all. He was all smiles when Sage said his goodbyes.


                “I’m very much looking forward to tonight, Sage. Take care of yourself for the next few hours, I’d hate for something to happen to you before I got the chance to see the non-digital you.”

                With a sigh of relief, Aiden was finally able to remove the headset. The digital world was replaced by the real world and Aiden wasn’t shocked to see little difference between the two. Lasher was sitting at his feet, looking up at him with a question behind his eyes.

                “No, I’m not crazy, Lash. Daddy just made a new friend,” Aiden said as he ruffled the dog’s head. His cellphone was plastered to his ear a second later.

                “Yeah, Dimitri? I need you to come over. Well tell her your boss needs you. Yes, it’s very important…” and on he went, his voice echoing down the hall and throughout the half-built house.